Boston Flora

Tag: Apple Trees

  • Saturday, November 15, 9:00 am – 4:00 pm, & Sunday, November 16, 10:00 am – 4:00 pm – Cultivated: New England Apple Tree Symposium

    Explore the world of heirloom apples during a full day of apple-inspired discovery on November 15 at New England Botanic Garden in Boylston. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes tour of NEBG’s Frank L. Harrington Orchard, learn how to start and maintain your own home orchard, sample rare and flavorful apple varieties, and dive into the art of cider making on Sunday November 16 with an optional off-site cidery tour. Whether you’re a backyard grower, history buff, or cider enthusiast, there’s something to savor and learn. $95 for NEBG members, $114 for nonmembers, $99 for Ecological Landscape Alliance members. Register HERE.

  • Sunday, March 3, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm – Heirloom Apple Grafting

    Come join Broken Arrow Nurseries grafting guru, Adam Wheeler, on Sunday, March 3 from 1 – 4 at Berkshire Botanical Garden for this hands-on workshop that explores the world of grafting heirloom apples. Participants will be given a brief lecture that explores the methods and intricacies of this time-tested craft. Following the lecture, participants will put this newfound knowledge to work by grafting a few specimen apples of their own to take home.

    Adam Wheeler started playing with plants at Broken Arrow in 2004 after completing his B.S. degree in Urban Forestry and Landscape Horticulture at the University of Vermont. His favorite responsibilities at Broken Arrow Nursery include plant propagation and the acquisition and development of new plants. He is a past recipient of the Young Nursery Professional Award from the New England Nursery Association and is the current Vice President of the North American Maple Society. He loves to share his passion for plants through photography and educational outreach. As a result, he lectures widely on a variety of subjects and is also an adjunct lecturer at Naugatuck Valley Community College and the Berkshire Botanical Garden. With his spare time he enjoys cultivating his eclectic collection of rare and unusual plants, rock climbing and competitive giant pumpkin growing! $35 for BBG members, $45 for nonmembers. Register at https://www.berkshirebotanical.org/events/heirloom-apple-grafting

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  • Saturday, March 19, 9:00 am – 3:00 pm – Apple Tree Grafting

    UMass Extension’s Fruit Program has announced its 2016 Seminars (visit http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/mass-aggie-seminars-2016 for full list) and today we highlight the March 19 hands on workshop on Apple Tree Grafting. Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting – they are not grown from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Wes Autio will present a hands-on workshop on ‘bench grafting’ and ‘cleft grafting’ of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be included. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apples trees to take home. There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch.The class will run from 9 – 3 at the UMass Cold Spring Orchard, 391 Sabin Street in Belchertown. Fee $100, and you may register online at the website above.

  • Saturday, March 21, 10:00 am – 1:00 pm – Grafting Heirloom Apple Trees for the Home Garden

    Explore the art and science of grafting plants at Berkshire Botanical Garden on Saturday, March 21 from 10 – 1. Join grafting guru Adam Wheeler, from Connecticut’s Broken Arrow Nursery, for this hands-on workshop that explores the world of grafting with a focus on heirloom apples trees. Participants will be given a brief lecture that explores the methods and intricacies of this time-tested craft. Following the lecture, participants will practice this new-found skill by grafting several heirloom apple varieties to add to their home orchards.

    Adam Wheeler is the Propagation and New Plant Development Manager for Broken Arrow Nursery in Hamden, CT, a specialty nursery with a focus on woody plants. He teaches woody plant propagation workshops throughout New England.  BBG members $40, nonmembers $45.  Register online at http://www.berkshirebotanical.org/event/grafting-heirloom-apple-trees-for-the-home-garden/?instance_id=3278. Image from www.seedsavers.org.

  • Saturday, March 29, 9:00 am – 2:30 pm – Grafting Apple Trees

    University of Massachusetts Extension will hold a hands-on workshop, Grafting Apple Trees, on Saturday, March 29, from 9 – 2:30 at The Farm School. 488 Moore Hill Road in Athol. Many people do not realize that all apple varieties are reproduced by grafting – they are not grown from seed. For horticultural enthusiasts, one of the most satisfying techniques to master is grafting. Wes Autio will present a hands-on workshop on “bench grafting” and “cleft grafting” of apple trees. Other grafting techniques will be discussed. Proper tools and sharpening will be included. All participants in the workshop will graft several of their own apple trees to take home.  There will be a break for participants to enjoy a BYO lunch.  You may register and pay at https://classic.regonline.com/builder/site/?eventid=1460640.

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  • Saturday, March 9, 10:00 am – 2:00 pm – Apple Pruning

    A good fruit tree should not make a good shade tree. The primary purpose of pruning is to increase sunlight penetration, remove less productive wood, and shape the crown into an efficient, stable form. A neglected but otherwise healthy tree will usually show a marked improvement in fruit quality as a result of pruning. Join apple expert John Bunker of Fedco Trees in Waterville, Maine, for an apple tree pruning workshop at the Polly Hill Arboretum in Martha’s Vineyard on Saturday, March 9, from 10 – 2. Find out how to give an old tree new life and what kind of yearly pruning maintenance will keep your fruit trees producing year after year. This workshop begins with a talk on fruit tree pruning then heads outside to a near-by orchard for hands-on pruning. Bring your pruners, lopers and/or pruning saw if you have them. Also bring a brown bag lunch.  $55/$45 for PHA members. Register at www.pollyhillarboretum.org.

  • Saturday, November 7 – Sunday, November 8 – Franklin County CiderDays

    CiderDays is a community event celebrating all things apples in Franklin County, Massachusetts.  2009 marks the 15th year of this event and there will be two days of orchard tours, cider making and tastings, workshops, and much more.  This is for all who love apples, fresh or hard cider, apple cuisine, apple orchards, or just being in New England in the fall.  There is a charge for some of the activities but there is no admission for the self-guided tour of the orchards or the Marketplace at the Shelburne Buckland Community Center in Shelburne Falls.  Tickets for CiderDays 2009 are on sale at www.ciderday.org.

    Some highlights include workshops, talks and tastings from beginner through advanced for cider makers, home orchardists, and cider afficionados at various locations throughout the weekend.  Saturday, November 7, from 8 – 11, enjoy an Apple Pancake Breakfast at the Second Congregational Church, Court Square in Greenfield.  The Cider Salon, with tastings of a dozen or so ciders from around the country, takes place at the White Church Community Center in Old Deerfield on Saturday (you need a ticket for this one.)  The CiderDay Harvest Supper features Chef Paul Correnty, who will create a savory fall feast featuring apples, cider and other locally grown foods.  The dinner will be held in the Blue & White Society Room at the PVNA Teachers’ Center, 10 Memorial Street in Old Deerfield (another ticketed event.)  New Salem Orchards hosts its Apple Festival with child-friendly apple pressing, live alpacas, cider donuts, caramel apples, hot squash/cider soup, roasted hot dogs over a bonfire, apples, sweet cider, sun-cooked preserves and more on both Saturday and Sunday.  Claude Jolicouer gives a talk about cider varieties for the commercial orchard on Saturday at a location to be announced.  Organic orchardist Michael Phillips wassails apple trees at New Salem Orchards on Saturday from 1 – 2 pm.  Michael is also leading an orchard walk at Clarkdale Fruit Farms on Sunday from 1 – 2 pm.  Terry Maloney from West County Cider and Steve Wood from Farnum Hill Cider will conduct From Apple to Bottle on Sunday at the White Church Community Center (tickets required.)  Apples from the Slow Food Ark is a lecture on Sunday, also at the White Church Community Center, led by Ben Watson (not the New England Patriot) and Tom Burford – tickets needed for this one, too.  Formaggio’s South End pairs with Ben Watson later on Sunday for a Cider and Cheese Pairing (buy tickets for this one – it will be spectacular), and The Marketplace at Shelburne Buckland Community Center in Shelburne Falls will host local artisans and producers, food vendors, and, of course, apples.  For directions and more information, log on to www.ciderday.org.

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